Convict Ancestors

Want to know more about the nation's convict past?

Convict Ancestors will use the wealth of expertise in convict history at the University of Tasmania to walk students through Australia’s UNESCO-listed convict archive. It will include important information on how to read and interpret convict records as well as a host of tips for making sense of trial records and information gleaned from other judicial and penal series. This unit is a must for anyone interested in the nation’s convict past.

Online: Convict Ancestors is part of a fully online suite of units which enable flexible study. It is one of five foundation-level units available in the Diploma of Family History. Students must complete four foundation-level units and four 100-level units to complete the Diploma.

Free access to Ancestry.com Library: Gain free access to billions of historical documents, millions of historical photos, plus local narratives, oral histories and other resources that span from the 1500s to the 2000s.

What you will learn

On successful completion of this unit you will be:

Familiar with the wide range of historic records available to locate individual convicts transported to the Australian penal colonies and to trace their life course experiences.

Able to read, transcribe, and understand key material presented within convict records.

Able to situate the experiences of individual convicts within a relevant wider context and convey this information to a wider audience.

What students say...

"I am an experienced family history researcher, but I felt that I was probably overlooking vital information. This course (Introduction to Family History) was a great learning curve for me, but the two most important things I learnt was to maintain a strict research log and to read all documents thoroughly. This course is highly recommended."
- Ian Beckett, NSW

To find out more about the University’s fees including how and when to pay them, please visit Fees & Charges.

Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF)

The Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) is a compulsory fee for student services and amenities of a non-academic nature such as employment and career advice, financial advice, childcare, food services and sporting and recreational activities.

All Commonwealth Supported Students must also pay the SSAF, including those studying online. In 2019, this fee is $45.45 per unit. The maximum charge for full time students is $303. These costs can be deferred through the SA-HELP loan scheme for eligible students. A claim form is available for completion on eStudent.

For more information about the SSAF including how the University uses the fee to fund student services, please visit SSAF.

The Convict Ancestors unit is available to Australian citizens; and for NZ citizens, Permanent Residents and Humanitarian Visa Holders provided all studies are on-shore in Australia. You will need to have access to a computer and a reliable internet connection.

When do I receive my free access to the Ancestry.com Library?

You will receive details about your access to Ancestry.com on the MyLO page once you begin the unit. Students will be able to access this via the Library portal once they are enrolled.

What are the dates for the next offering of this unit?

The next offering of Convict Ancestors will run from 25th February - 12th April 2019.

You should expect to spend approximately 4-5 hours/week undertaking study in this unit. On successful completion of this unit you will be:

Familiar with the wide range of historic records available to locate individual convicts transported to the Australian penal colonies and to trace their life course experiences.

Able to read, transcribe, and understand key material presented within convict records.

Able to situate the experiences of individual convicts within a relevant wider context and convey this information to a wider audience.

I don't own a computer; can I still apply for the unit?

You will need to have access to a computer to complete this unit. If you don't have your own computer, perhaps someone in your family or a friend has one, or you could use a computer at your local library, on campus in student areas, or at the university library.

You also require a reliable internet connection. You should expect to download about 1-2 GB of data each month while studying the unit online.

Do I need to be available online at specific times?

Generally you can complete the unit work in your own time. Please note that content is usually released on a weekly or fortnightly basis. The unit coordinators may choose to present some content in the form of a live web conference. You will be made aware of this via news items during the semester.

Are there exams or assignments?

There will be ongoing assessments throughout the semester. Assessments could include such items as online quizzes composed of multiple-choice and short answer questions (some of which may be time-limited), online discussion forums and/or presenting your genealogical work. There are no exams for this unit.

Is there any face-to-face teaching?

No. The Convict Ancestors unit is fully online.

Who would benefit from studying Convict Ancestors?

Anyone interested in their own family histories or genealogy in general.

What is the Diploma of Family History?

The Diploma of Family History is a course consisting of eight family history units. Students will automatically be enrolled under the Diploma when they apply for Convict Ancestors.

Students must enrol in a formal course (i.e. a diploma, associate degree or bachelor degree) to take advantage of these opportunities. Enrolling in a unit will enrol you in the relevant course for that unit. Our courses aim to build confidence and capacity to develop a pathway to success.

We hope that you will be encouraged by the quality and flexibility of these particular units, and the academic support available, to continue with further study and complete a course. We are aware of the need to manage work-life balance, and we offer flexible learning plans that can help tailor a program to suit individual circumstances. We work closely with our students to support their progression through these learning opportunities.

Is it a requirement that I complete a full course at the University of Tasmania?

A high proportion of students undertaking these units go on to complete a course. We realise that students' circumstances change due to financial and family commitments and there is no formal obligation to complete a course if your circumstances make that difficult.

It is possible to have a break from study and return at a later date and to change course, if your interests change. We are also planning to develop shorter qualifications such as diplomas and associate degrees which will take less time to complete.

Applications for the next offering will open closer to the commencement date. Please complete an Expression of Interest if you would like to be notified when information about the next intake is released.

If you are required to provide Citizenship documentation (if you have changed citizenship and are now an Australian citizen) or Permanent residency documentation (if you are not an Australian citizen but living under a permanent residency visa in Australia) you can scan and email them to us at ASC.Contact@utas.edu.au.

After you have received your login details you will also be required to submit an eCAF. The eCAF (electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form) is a government form that is available online, after you have received your login details, through eStudent.

What is the cost of this unit?

Most Australian or New Zealand citizens, or holders of a permanent visa are eligible for a Commonwealth Supported Place (CSP) when studying the Diploma of Family History. In 2019, for CSPs the student contribution towards the tuition fee is $820.00 per unit. These costs can be deferred under the HECS-HELP loan scheme for eligible students.

All Commonwealth Supported Students must also pay the SSAF, including those studying online. In 2019, this fee is $45.45 per unit. The maximum charge for full time students is $303. These costs can be deferred through the SA-HELP loan scheme for eligible students. A claim form is available for completion on eStudent.

What is an eCAF?

The eCAF (electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form) is a government form that is available online through eStudent. Completing the form is a mandatory requirement for all Commonwealth supported students. Instructions for how to complete the eCAF form will be included in the unit content. Also see eCAF Instruction Guide (PDF 531KB).

When do applications close?

Applications will close at 5pm on Friday 22nd February 2019.

How will I know if my application is successful and if I have received a place in Convict Ancestors?

Once your application has been assessed, and if you have been successful, you will receive a letter/email from the university with details about your new University of Tasmania student username, email address and password. You will use your username and password to access the course content (through the MyLO online learning platform), as well as eStudent to manage your enrolment details and to submit your eCAF.

Please allow 10 working days for us to process your application however if you have not received an email or letter with your password/login details after 10 days, please contact us by email ASC.Contact@utas.edu.au, phone +61 3 6226 6365, or the Contact Us online form so that we check your application.

If you are a current or past UTAS student you will not receive new login details but will continue using those already assigned to you. If your password has expired you can change this through the MyPassword Service.

What happens if my application is not successful? Will someone contact me?

All applicants will be advised about the outcome of their application.

What happens if I begin the unit after the official start date?

The Convict Ancestors unit is delivered fully online. For this reason, you can study flexibly to make up for any time that you may have missed. Please note however that there will be assessment tasks due on certain dates, so please contact us by email ASC.Contact@utas.edu.au, phone +61 3 6226 6365, or the Contact Us online form, to discuss starting the unit late.

If you have forgotten your login details, please contact please contact the UTAS IT Service Desk for assistance: Ph +61 3 6226 1818 (8:30am-6:00pm weekdays and 10:00am-1:00pm weekends and Tasmanian state wide public holidays) or 1300 304 903 (local call charge within Tasmania) or Email: service.desk@utas.edu.au.

What is an eCAF?

The eCAF (electronic Commonwealth Assistance Form) is a government form that is available online through eStudent. Completing the form is a mandatory requirement for all Commonwealth supported students. Instructions for how to complete the eCAF form will be included in the unit content. Also see eCAF Instruction Guide (PDF 531KB).

What is Census date?

Every unit offered by a university has a published census date. Census date is the last day a student can withdraw from a unit without receiving a financial penalty. For the 2019 offering of Convict Ancestors, this date is 22nd March 2019. For withdrawal enquiries after census date, please contact us by email ASC.Contact@utas.edu.au, phone +61 3 6226 6365, or the Contact Us online form.

There will be ongoing assessments throughout the semester. Assessments could include such items as online quizzes composed of multiple-choice and short answer questions (some of which may be time-limited), online discussion forums and/or presenting your genealogical work.

The Convict Ancestors unit is delivered fully online. For this reason, you can study flexibly to make up for any time that you may have missed. Please note however that there will be assessment tasks due on certain dates, so please contact us by email ASC.Contact@utas.edu.au, phone +61 3 6226 6365, or the Contact Us online form, to discuss starting the unit late.

I have completed my unit. How do I obtain my results?

The official release of results will occur on the date specified in the UTAS calendar. These results will be accessible from 9am on the specified date and are accessible via eStudent.

Can I use my Convict Ancestors unit result as credit towards a degree?